The first decade of the new millennium flew by. The beginning was so vibrant and new, but we felt it end stale, sketchy and commercialized.  One email reminded us how wrong we were.

@just-b-4, our super-stylish friend to your left, messaged us as she always had, with positive energy and excitement about MUSIC! That introduction to Pedro Bueno in January 2010 inspired us to begin this series and continue to search out Fresh Beats. It was a sign of a sweet reality: there will forever be people like Bonnie who love house music as much as we do. 

The written archive became a blog about our house-music life; this music is a collection that will stand the test of time.  These exclusives are compiled by artists who simply wish to have their passions heard.  We humbly did what we can to help them out with that.

fresh BEATS

bringthebeats has always had a lot in common with Add2Basket, and in a kind of unfortunate way, that hasn’t changed  in 2013. Personal and professional responsibilities have slowed us both down from doing what we love most; share music.

We’ve been throwing parties and raising a little boy, András has been working tirelessly for Neston and spending some much-deserved downtime with a special friend. It’s been a positive break from spreading the underground love, but we both know it’s time to refocus on our ultimate goals.

Our endeavours have inspired us to get back on track with more passion than ever before. Add2Basket is fresh off a gig at The Garden Festival in Croatia and compiled his first promo mix of 2013 for Dirty Kitchen Music.  And here we are together again doing what we do best; Add2Basket making funtastic music and bringthebeats sharing the story behind it.

For those who don’t know, Neston is an online radio station based out of Add2Basket’s native Hungary. It showcases under-the-radar tracks from all genres. András does much of the programming for Neston and you can definitely hear the station’s influence in Add2Basket mixes throughout the past couple years, especially in the final episode of The Rogue Show.

This bringthebeats exclusive is no exception. Where most would cite influences of tech, breaks or trance in the mix, Add2Basket delves into tropical and atmospheric sounds, retro rock and soul to construct his unique vibe. It’s really no surprise a guy who claims DJ Harvey as one of his greatest inspirations would move in this direction. It’s what makes the Add2Basket style so accessible and why no matter how long he goes into hiding, we’ll always be on top of him to provide some Fresh Beats.

Add2Basket production: http://www.soundcloud.com/add2basket
www.facebook.com/Add2Basket

Add2Basket - bringthebeats - July 2013

Our connection to the sultry sounds of the south remains as strong today as it’s ever been. With two of our most important contributors, Cesar Caballero and Ricky Ryan, firmly rooted in the scenes of their homeland, our niche is most certainly focused on the sexy vibes of these two guys and their compatriots.

It’s been increasingly difficult to obtain exclusive mixes from the usual suspects, who are more readily releasing sets through their own podcasts, series and SoundCloud accounts.  Nevertheless, they still help us find bedroom stars looking for exposure and we’re definitely happy to oblige. This is the essence of Fresh Beats.

In this case, Ricky’s reconnected us with an underground artist we were first in touch with in 2009.  Lyoko sent us some fantastic mixes four years ago, but we were unable to nail down the perfect bringthebeats debut, until now.

This submission – titled ‘Deep Inside Of You’ – is dedicated to Lyoko’s girlfriend and new beginnings.  It’s given him the inspiration to start playing live again, and as you can hear, that’s great news for clubbers in Buenos Aires.

“My desire and main intention for this mix is to help every listener find passion and fall in love with someone new.” -- Lyoko

Though we’ve never met Lyoko in person, we know he’s similar to every Argentinean we call brother.  He’s the type of guy whose senses turn on every time he listens to a groovy bass line or a soft melody. You can’t pigeonhole his style, since he listens to all varieties of electronic music, but you can guarantee he only plays tracks that make him smile.

We feel privileged to host Lyoko’s music as he works through his process of rejuvenation.  We too have escaped from time to time, but know the music is always waiting with open arms when we’re ready to embrace it again.  This is Lyoko’s time to return for the love, and we’re so happy he did.

1) The Howling, Ry, Ame – Shortline (Frank Wiedemann Remix)
2) Jacob Henry – Hopeful Romantic (Johan Vilborg Remix)
3) Kruse & Nuernberg feat Nathalie Claude – Leaves Falling (Mario Basanov Remix)
4) Ten Walls – Gotham (Original Mix)
5) Audionox – Brething (Original Mix)
6) Solar & Poppcke – Night Train (Original Mix)
7) Universal Solution – Osheen (Original Mix)
8) Rise N`Fall – Take Me Other (Mecka Remix)
9) Shonky – Le Velour
10) Nelue feat. Russian Red – Deconstructed (Crazy P Remix)
11) Everything But The Girl – Driving (Pete Oak Remake)

Lyoko - bringthebeats - August 2013

We’ve recently said it many times and will probably many more… it’s exciting to have the progressive style of DJing back in the forefront once again. Whether the music is classified as deep house, tech house, progressive house or funky house, DJs are finally back to programming with movement and flow.  We couldn’t be happier. Our glory days have returned and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon – hopefully never.

DJs who spin progressively (aka progressive house DJs) are being rediscovered by a new generation who’ve found their way into the underground through EDM’s mainstream surge. This progressive renaissance bodes well for the clubbing community as a whole, but especially for veteran talents like Sean Keating who have had trouble finding like-minded people close to home.

Sean has performed alongside many of the best in the business including, Dubfire, Danny Howells, Luke Fair and John Graham.  When the scene in Canada’s east coast was its hottest, Sean Keating took off.  He can boast an impromptu back-to-back with Sasha in 2003 and earned a Transitions mix after winning the Structures DJ mix competition in 2011. He was super good young and has stayed on top of his game for a very long time.

Despite struggling to find cool places to play in Halifax (the east’s traditional clubbing capital) and Moncton (his current home), Sean continues to satisfy his DJ fix through the excellent Chilling Moments mix series.   You can hear his unwavering passion and connection to the music in every episode.

It can’t be easy to remain inspired without the regular nightlife options we take for granted here in Toronto.  It’s a testament to Sean’s tremendous talent that he continues to be as precise and upfront at this Fresh Beats exclusive sounds…

SOUNDCLOUD: @sean-keating

Sean Keating - bringthebeats - September 2013

Luke Fair is the most interesting man in our underground. He’s a man of few words, but many talents, a perfectionist and a procrastinator, an inspiration and sometimes a frustration because he’s just so damn good.

All things said, he’s the most important artist in our movement and a great friend. We wouldn’t write posts, host music, lose fantasy-sports pools or throw parties if it weren’t for Luke Fair.

On the surface Luke’s an introverted musician; a dime a dozen. But if you dig deeper, you find a very complex and insanely-smart individual. His focus is narrow, but incredibly precise. Whatever he does, he does to the fullest, but truly can’t be bothered with the excess.

If being a superstar DJ/producer was only about talent and skill, Luke would be a sure bet for a Grammy. Unfortunately, awards in music are about most everything else, so he’ll simply remain the most popular act in our niche. There’s no one more satisfied with that than Luke Fair.

We met at the Kool Haus in 2001, as Luke stepped out of the cabana booth after opening for Deep Dish.  To this day it stands as one of the most memorable parties we’ve ever been on the dance floor for. A short time later we after partied for the first time, following one of his Solution nights.  The rest is history.

From System Soundbar to Club 1000, the WMC to Pacha, Buenos Aires, Aria and Stereo to Toika Lounge; when we’ve had the time of our lives, Luke Fair is usually conducting the vibe.  We’re so excited to continue this tradition as we celebrate 11-years of bringing the beats…

SOUNDCLOUD: @lukefair
www.lukefairmusic.com

Luke Fair - bringthebeats - October 2013

“This set will take you on a journey through the deep underworld of house and techno. It rolls along nicely with melodies and the occasional vocal until reaching a deeper, darker place as it draws to a close.” – @gweir

There’s an extra layer of comfort when we ask a DJ from the UK to supply us with Fresh Beats. We’re always guaranteed an extremely up-front compilation from a well-seasoned veteran. The Brits grew up with electronic music and certainly know it better than anyone else. It’s always a treat to have someone like Gary Weir show us how it’s done proper.

Gary’s DJing is influenced by his nights at Shine in his hometown of Belfast, as well as underground adventures inside the legendary Lush! at Kelly’s in Portrush.  He’s also had the luxury of popping over to Ibiza to soak in the warm vibes of the magical island.

His sets have been featured on Deep and Deeper, De TouT and Baggo Deep on Tunnel FM. He’s also recorded a mix for Groove Site FM.  However, it’s his monthly podcast called Sensuality – which airs on DE Radio the fourth Saturday of every month and archived on his SoundCloud page – that caught our attention and motivated us to seek out some Fresh Beats for our crew.

This is the third straight winter we’ve been fortune enough to land an exclusive from an Irish talent.   It’s become a tradition to have our dancing shoes kept warm with the sounds of a DJ from across the pond. As did Stuart Johnston and Steve Mccaan with their stellar submissions, Gary has delivered on that expectation and then some.

He’s turned up the juice for his bringthebeats debut, something quite unique in today’s scene where most everything is super deep. Gary’s compiled a mix for the dance floor in studio.  The live element is in full effect, as Gary’s one of the few still confident enough to record straight out the mixer.

It’s a little grittier than we’re used to, but just as groovy, soulful and funky as we knew it would be. It’s an outright stormer we know the btb crew will absolutely love – and need in the midst of this unrelenting winter…

1- alex dimou – sweet berries (simon baker remix)
2- massive attack – any love (facundo mohrr and rodrigo valdovonos bootleg)
3- catz ‘n dogz – evil tram
4- the shaker – motionique
5- sebastian leger – tinkle
6- genny g – un affatata (nima gorji remix)
7- graham lavert – mysterious mule
8- dubtribe sound system – do it now (deep tech version)
9- christian smith and wehbba – someone else
10- russ yallop feat. aimee sophia – the journey (dub)
11- tale of us and vaal – concor

Gary Weir - bringthebeats - January 2014

There are absolutely no beats better than the ones made strictly for the love. That’s what we continually hear from our friends in Argentina, the bringthebeats-proclaimed heartland of progressive house.

Take this Fresh Beats exclusive from Lyoko for instance. It’s sultry and soulful, deep and groovy, funky and club friendly. We don’t know how anyone could be in anything but an incredible mood after listening to an hour of music like this.

“I look for tracks that turn a light on inside myself, it could be any style, but the music must be harmonic and easy listening.”- Lyoko

But in our opinion, the greatest thing about Lyoko’s second bringthebeats exclusive is exactly the same as his first; it was sent to us with no strings attached. He’s not fishing for a gig or promoting one at home.  He doesn’t have a production in the cue. Lyoko simply felt inspired to compile a set for the bringthebeats crew.

We survive in this scene for gifts like this. Writing the post, struggling with the artwork and putting it all together while listening to a beautiful set tailor made to our tastes. This is where we find our love for the underground. Thanks for the reminder Lyoko.

The Dragonfly Effect

Dragonflies are fast and really strong. They can move swiftly in any direction and even hover when its four wings are moving in harmony. My life has had big changes and this little insect -that can be found near any lake or pond- has been an inspiration during these months. 

I´ve been listening, buying and downloading tons of music, and at the beginning I picked deep house for this new set. Then I realized everybody´s on the same wave right now and I don´t want to sound like anybody else. That´s when I thought to myself while opening a folder in my computer; “hey, you have great tracks here which are not deep house, why not put them all together? It might work!”

It may or may not have worked, but this is my latest mix and it´s full of tunes I loved listening to while driving on my way to a club or surrounded by friends. I hope the bringthebeats crew likes it as much as I enjoyed recording it ;) - Lyoko

1:. Bonobo vs Maya Jane Coles – Cirrus Everything (Lyoko Edit)
2:. Fabo – Light Again (Original Mix)
3:. Torha – Let It Go (Going Deeper Mix)
4:. Celsius – Thirds & Fourths (Original Mix)
5:. Fred Everything, Al Velilla, Frederico Y Alvaro – Blue Fish (Dub Mix)
6:. Name One, Maxxi Soundsystem – One In Three (Dub Mix)
7:. Pablo Bolivar – Memories (Nhar Remix)
8:. Nikko Z – Slope (Hernan Cattaneo & Soundexile Remix)
9:. Wester – Stay (Dirt Crew Remix)
10:. Mimram – I’m Here For You (Original Mix)
11:. Rodskeez – Bourbon Blush (Original Mix)
12:. Toucan – Run (Original Mix)

Lyoko - bringthebeats - May 2014

As we’ve reached our 12th year online, more than ever, bringthebeats is all about the music. The club scene has passed us by. A walking, talking little time bomb smack dab in the middle of his terrible twos -among too many other responsibilities- have made late nights and event-consumed weekends very difficult to pull off. Because of our busy weeks, our most chilled times with house music have unfortunately been everywhere but the dance floor.

A similar story can be told about our main man Luke Fair. For well over a decade Luke’s insane touring schedule conflicted with his desire to be with his family pursuing other interests. Luke’s so talented and incredibly bright, it’s always been a shame so much of his time and energy was spent in the air. When you’re locked into constant travel, it’s almost impossible to expand your horizons, but Luke’s finally doing just that under a beautiful Malaysian sun.

Even though it seems we’re in the twilight of our underground careers, neither Luke nor bringthebeats will ever loose our thirst for groove. House music is trapped in our soul. We both agree its never sounded cooler and it’ll only get better with the masses involved.

We sometimes wonder what it would be like if we were ten years younger, right in the middle of this surge. On the other hand, we’d never pass up the opportunity to be on the cusp in the early days, when the vibe was fresh and pure. Without a doubt, some of the best times we’ll ever have were spent working the dance floor together, wherever that may have been.

The trick now is to stay active and on the pulse while we recharge the battery and assess where our place in the scene can be. We know Luke will continue to perform in his favourite destinations, and when Toronto is one of them, you know bringthebeats will be on board. From now until the end of the year, we’ll also brainstorm ideas to continue to spread funky house love across the wire, because releases like this are a rush we’re not ready to give up.

After 12 years we still feel butterflies the moment we first press play on a Luke Fair promo. And when it says bringthebeats on the file, our hearts swell and feet tingle. The funky, groovy, soulful and super-sexy sounds of Luke Fair are still what’s going down in our underground; you can always count on that.

SOUNDCLOUD: @lukefair
www.lukefairmusic.com

Luke Fair - bringthebeats - October 2014

There’s absolutely no doubt our association with Luke Fair has provided a level of credibility we would’ve struggled to achieve on our own. Almost 100% of the DJs featured on this site list Luke as one of their inspirations.

His influence on the world of progressive house has powered our content from Day 1 and his continued involvement is a key factor why bringthebeats remains relevant nine years after launch.

Who would’ve thought such a low-key guy could inspire so many up-and-coming artists?  It blows me away he’s so chilled and focused soley on music, yet he’s managed to touch the spirit of virtually every DJ we listen to on a daily basis.

The “Luke Fair phenomenon” is our ultimate hook up.  Finding maestros like Marcos Deon is the proof.

I ask every Fresh Beats DJ to send a bio, a couple promo pics and whatever else they want me to plug in the post. Here’s Marcos’ edited response to what he wanted included:

“On October 29, I will play with Luke Fair, at Moinho Lounge. It will be the first time I will play with him, and this is gonna be a very important gig, because Luke has always been a great reference for me. If you could cite it in the post, I would be appreciated.”

Some extremely cool words about our friend. Can you imagine receiving such praise from one of your peers?  It’s a rare experience these days, and definitely a memorable one for all who were around the table when the message was passed on to Luke.

A handful of us headed back to the East Liberty Lounge following INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v10. My personal tradition for each after party is to begin the festivities with the newest bringthebeats exclusive.  For this occasion, Marcos Deon was first in rotation.

Sey started grooving in the living room, Erik was head bopping on the couch and the rest were hip shaking around the kitchen island. One by one, everyone asked who was in in the mix, including Luke around the 30min mark (an unforgettable memory because As I Am is one of my favourite tracks).

“Do you like it?” I respond. “Yeah, it’s really good,” Luke says. “It’s Marcos Deon, your opening DJ on October 29th.” As Luke grins ear to ear, I proceed to read the above request from an email on my phone.

I know it’s kind of cheesy – and it was at the time – but after what Luke did in the club that night, and with Marcos’ fantastic set rolling over the Sonos, I think we all shared an internal group hug imagining ourselves in Brazil at the end of the month. At the very least I felt a sinister sense of satisfaction watching Luke squirm while feeling the praise… hehe, that’ll never get old.

What makes this story so very special is the excellence of the mix.  Marcos has compiled a composition of modern classics.  It’s a systematically thought-out melody of rolling baselines, lush chords and emotional sounds.  It’s one of those gems that can be used for relaxation or to amp the crowd.

You can tell it comes from the heart, and there’s no words that describe how much Luke and all the bringthebeats crew appreciates that. -- gD.

01. Rodriguez Jr. – Massilia (Original Mix) – MOBILEE RECORDS
02. Stelios Vassiloudis – Bite Down (Compuphonic Remix) – MOODMUSIC RECORDS
03. Demian Jack – Neurotic (Original Mix) – STIGMA REC
04. Beat Factory – Lets Take A Walk feat. Stamina (Original Mix) – BALANCE MUSIC
05. Marcelo Vasami & Ariel AB – Too Long Too Late (Silinder Remix) – LOWBIT
06. DJ Anna – As I Am (Original Mix) – TRONIC
07. Simon Garcia – Chordus (Original Mix) – QUARTZ REC
08. Gregor Tresher – Lights From The Inside (Dosem Remix) – BREAK NEW SOIL
09. Romano Alfieri & Luca Bear – Leave the Valley (Original Mix) – BREAK NEW SOIL
10. Humate – Love Stimulation (Vincenzo Remix) – GRAND CASINO
11. Shonky – Oasis (Original Mix) – CULPRIT

SOUNDCLOUD: @marcosdeon
www.facebook.com/djmarcosdeon

Marcos Deon - bringthebeats - October 2011

You begin to follow trends when you spend as much time on social networks as I do. As a promoter, I look out for those who Like, retweet and comment on the content I enjoy. I figure these are the people who’d dig the music we provide, or in this case, provide the music we dig.

Obviously, Stuart Johnston is one of these people. We’ve been praising many of the same artists, loving and listening to the best of progressive house for a very long time. Together we support and encourage the legends and fresh talent of our underground even though we’re situated over 5000 km apart.  It’s a bond I’ve felt before and is very real to me.  It’s one of the most beautiful things about our scene.

After hearing this exclusive, I’m pretty sure he feels the same way.  It’s a serious compilation; super tight, skillfully programmed and methodically captivating.  I know A LOT of effort was put into this mix; we’re sincerely thankful for such an exquisite gift.

The journey kicks off on a tech / tribal tip with an intro from Scottish maestros Slam.  It reaches forward to gorgeous synths from Stelios Vassiloudis, which then melts into the hypnotic strings of Berg.  A deep gruuv is the undertone for the second half, rolling into a super-suave conclusion in Vincenzo’s version of Nuribo.

An instant btb classic and an incredible start to what we already know will be a long-lasting friendship.  Thanks again Papa Johnston.

1- Slam – Eterna – Radio Slave Remix – Soma Records
2- Migoo – Maschine Poetry – Alexander Maier Remix – Moodmusic
3- Stelios Vassiloudis – Reaching – Bedrock Records
4- Tolga Fidan – Berg – New Kanada
5- Nick Lawson & Matthew Burton – Playdo – Inxec Remould – Leftroom Records
6- Terje Saether Feat. Malin Patterson – Scared – Alt. Vocal Mix – Darkroom Dubs
7- Joachim Pastor – Braumstig – Rodriguez Jr. Remix – Mistakes Music
8- Uner – Nuribo – Vincenzo Remix – Gruuv

SOUNDCLOUD: @stuart-johnston-1
www.facebook.com/stuart.johnston.167

We don’t often post artist bios straight up in this forum; we usually just reference them to confirm the facts.  But we're including Stuart’s below because it’s well written and quite frankly he needs to get his money’s worth…

The shimmer of a beat the smooth edge of a flowing groove, dance music that seamlessly emerges from an electronic belly brimming with funk, soul and depth. Sounds which materialise in mixes by Belfast based DJ Stuart Johnston play-listed over the last 6 months by online Electronic Dance Music radio stations such as Frisky Radio and Proton Radio.

Submerging himself into a world of beats, grooves and rhythms in the early 90s the Belfast DJ frequented clubs such as The Art College Belfast, Kelly’s Portrush, and Circus Circus Banbridge, Stuart was greatly influenced by the DJ’s who played these clubs, David Holmes, Ian McCready, Chris Hurley, Glen Molly and Jacko.

His recent sets span the deep and melodic side of electronica and techier productions by artists such as Tale Of Us, Maya Jane Coles, Solomun, Tigerskin, Maceo Plex & Sasse. He cites DJ’s such as Desyn Masiello, Ricky Ryan, Luke Fair, Tom Morgan, Hisham Zahran and Dana Bergquist as contemporary peers.

Does the world still need DJs we hear you ask ? Just as a disco ball needs to spin and feet need to hit the floor. It appears so.

Stuart Johnston - bringthebeats - December 2011

I’ve been going the arduous process of sorting through all my music from the past 13 years with the goal of storing everything in one wireless location. I anticipate it’ll take a full year to transfer and tag it all, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end. It’s always been a dream of mine to live in an on-demand oasis of tunes, and when this task’s complete, I’ll finally be in my paradise. You gotta love technology!

Despite the monotony of the job, it’s a rewarding and emotional experience revisiting each era of our EDM adventure. Starting with our rave days and then the Breathe barrage; next was EXPOSED and of course the most-recent trips of bliss at INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND. We’ve been privy to some of the best music ever made and we feel honoured to have so much of it recorded exclusively to share with all of you.

As I sort through all the tunes I can’t help but reflect on how many people have come and gone. What’s happened to him? When did she stop clubbing? And what happened to what this DJ spins??  Our crew, and underground, have gone through many transformations. Some people we miss quite a bit, other relationships were just not meant to be. But the ones you appreciate the most are those you can always count on.

Felipe Callado is one of these friends. His passion for the music parallels ours. He struggles with the direction of the scene and the juggling of his work, private and social life, just as we do. But the magnetism of house music and the warm feelings of a beautiful melody and rolling base line will forever connect us despite living on opposite ends of the planet.

It’s also what compels us to go above and beyond to spread the house music love. His EXZELLENZ project is so similar to ours. They do their best to throw quality parties, because we both know this music is best heard live and loud. However, we appreciate how important these sounds are in our everyday lives, and that’s why the EXZELLENZ podcast is truly at the root of what they do.

With exclusives from some of the freshest and most talented artists in house music today, EXZELLENZ is definitely a series you should be on the pulse of. But if you’ve followed us over the past three years, you’re already well in the know about Felipe and how his mixes are on par with the best of the entire industry. His INTIMATE &UNDERGROUND was one for the ages, and every other promo he’s generously compiled for us has been equally top of the charts. Including this one.

Felipe cruises into this composition with a gentle groove.  Once again it’s Vincenzo building the subtle tension and we’re Loving how he struts delectably into dramatic, yet soulful Singing.  It’s difficult not to comment on every track, but the transition out of the Horizon is soooo sexy it’s an essential mention.  The smooth stretch to the most discrete Sonic Boom ever heard positions the mix perfectly for an epic finale that injects a deeeep craving for more.  Thankfully, if our history continues to repeat itself, we all know there will be.  Thanks so much Felipe.

SOUNDCLOUD: @felipecallado
www.facebook.com/felipecallado

Felipe Callado - bringthebeats - January 2012

It’s almost impossible for me to pinpoint exactly what our favourite genre of house is. We love the methodical style of Ricky Ryan and the funky progressive of The Rogue Show. We can’t get enough of Terry Lee Brown Jr.’s tech or the full-bodied sounds of Omid 16B.

But if we were to log listening hours over the past year, we’d have to say the likes of Dimitri From Paris, The Revenge and of course Dana Bergquist would top the list. It’s not because we like these DJs more than the others, it’s because of the accessibility of their music and how it accommodates the changes that have occurred in our lives since we started listening to it.

Back in the day when we were in clubs every weekend and house music was everything to us, it didn’t matter the pace or vibe, we blazed whatever was hot at the moment. Who we were with was never a concern because everyone around us was always in the know.

Nowadays, as we spend more of our free time with family and friends outside the scene, we need to be more selective with our queues. Especially when introducing people to real underground sounds for the first time.

Most people struggle to connect with tunes as complex as what you’ll find on this site.  Commercial music doesn’t contain the layers and depth of underground house.  It’s difficult for people who casually enjoy music to get into what they’re hearing when tracks are constructed in a more challenging manner.  Most only want one catchy hook, and that’s what commercial songs provide.  They’re easy.

The simplest way to bridge the gap that exists between the underground and the casual listener is to find mixes that incorporate vocals.  There’s something about a human’s voice that makes all music more accessible.  Even we must admit, a groovy verse can take any good track and make it incredible.

As you’ll hear in this Fresh Beats exclusive, Dana Bergquist is the master when it comes to featuring vocals in his sets.  Every one of his mixes can be played for any one of my friends or family members without fear of overwhelming ears.  He always compiles with a deep, smooth pace and uses selections that we all can relate to.  Dana’s music is the ultimate compromise.

Right away Dana drops this mix into some sexy Pillow Talk and continues the vocal symphony to its first climax, a pumping Hot Toddy remix.  There are so many cool moments wrapped around stellar transition tunes, but none are more amusing than the Cold as Ice apex.  And before you gather yourself, Dana’s back into the groove, closing things out with accessibility no other DJ we know can pull off.  No Matter What You Say, everyone can relate to a mix ending with Prince.

SOUNDCLOUD: @danabergquist
www.facebook.com/dana.bergquist

Dana Bergquist - bringthebeats - July 2011

We'd be lying if we didn’t admit to being a bit depressed about not attending the Winter Music Conference again this year. Despite the week’s shortcomings, the pilgrimage of punters to South Beach every March is always very special in many ways.

Coming from a place that doesn’t fully support the music we love, it’s so satisfying to go to conference and meet clubbers from all over the world who do.  You can always find a party that’s totally focused on the tunes. Most often you can find two or three. It’s a beautiful thing to have so many options and the guarantee you’ll be in a room filled with like-minded people.

For us, the WMC is all about community. Since we’re a small one, it’s extremely disappointing to pass up our annual opportunity to be with the global crew in Miami.  However, the term global is sort of misleading because of the absence of our South American friends. How can you say our crew is complete without the likes of Leonardo Tou dropping the beats on South Beach?  Lucky for us, we can still have some fresh BEATS right here. 

Leonardo delicately drops us into his Martix, as we slowly assimilate to the Sistem. It feels absolutely perfect for the Moment.  Before you know it, you’re trapped in a dark mood as the tension builds, and oh yeah, You Can Feel It when the groove kicks in. You Might Lose control of your feet when the classic funk brings Joy into the mix.  Then the pace catapults to a Higher Ground before getting a little Moody and soulful.  It’s tough to Stay Glued to the floor once the beats start to jack, so we get those hips shaking One More Time.  We have to be reeled in from a dreamland Miles Away as the Particles slowly come together to close out one incredible journey.   Thanks so much Leo.

01: FCL – Matrix Plus [Delusions Of Grandeur]
02: The System – You Are In My Sistem (Kerri Chancdler Remix)
03: Lee Jones – Moment (George Fitzgerald Remix) [Aus Music]
04: Moodtrap – Out Of Time [Tsuba]
05: Chez Damier – Can You Feel It (Steve Bug Re-Mix) [Defected]
06: Makam – You Might Lose It (Kerri Chandler Dark Mix) [Sushitech]
07: Quell – Joy (Original) [These Days]
08: Francis Inferno Orchestra – Go Easy On Me Girl [Kolour Recordings Digital]
09: Tony Lionni – Higher Ground [Freerange Records]
10: Dirtytwo – Moody (Leonardo Tou Edit) [CDR]
11: Audiojack – Stay Glued (FCL Weemix) [Gruuv]
12: Giorgio Luceri – One More Time (Orlando B Remix) [Seven Music]
13: Sebastian Davidson & Raxon – Miles Away (Spirit Catcher Remix) [Audio Tonic Records]
14: Moonstarr – C-Minus Particles [Public Transit Recordings]

SOUNDCLOUD: @leonardotou
www.facebook.com/leonardotou

Leonardo Tou - bringthebeats - March 2012

Real house music hasn’t reached the mainstream; it remains deep underground and that’s why it’s so damn cool.  If everyone liked what we did, we honestly don’t believe it would be as great as it is.  We can compare the sounds on this site to mainstream techno and commercial electro and come up with just as many differences as we would comparing bringthebeats to country or hip hop.  We’re niche, we’re underground and that’s how we like it.

Now don’t get us wrong, it’s disheartening to know how many sensational tunes are available for worldwide consumption and the masses, even the club kids, may never “get it.”  Our man Pedro Bueno is just as upset and bitter about this as we am.  He may live a 12-hour flight south, but we’re in the same boat when it comes to the energy we invest into this movement.  We both hope one day everyone will hear and feel what we do, but there are many moments when it feels like it’s not even worth the effort.  Thankfully, the music continues to pull us in from these rough waters.

Pedro’s taken a break from his self-imposed retirement because the beats have spoken to him once again.  Inspired by friends and an innate obligation to the incredible producers who make this music, he’s put together another emotional and uplifting promo exclusively for bringthebeats. We don’t need the clubs and all the garbage that comes with them.  We have our house and we have each other to share it with.  Despite our inevitable frustration, this is all we truly need.

It’s time to Leave Your Earth Behind as we’re spun into the clouds for an opening that catapults us toward multiple tracks with impactful lyrics. Pedro drives home our points to the Criminal World of commercial music with a funky, melodic opening argument. For the life of me I’ll never understand why these groovy pleasures remain hidden from Billboard’s charts.

From this bliss we venture on a nostalgic trance-like trip, reaching deep Inside Me with guitar riff memories of our first WMC. Cancosta influences veer their beautiful head with a methodical, atmospheric trek that reminds me of August summer days, poolside with friends, savoring the Beautiful World this music creates.

1- Soft Rocks – Leave Your Earth Behind (Roots Unit’s Goodbye Earth Remix)
2- Last Waltz – Criminal World (Original Mix)
3- Jiro Vega – Aqua (Dana Bergquist & Peder G Remix)
4- Videodrome – Temptations Daughter feat Derek Meins (Original Mix)
5- HOSH – Hidden Pleasures feat Malonda (Original Mix)
6- Julian Wassermann & Henning Coordes – Key Moment (Original Mix)
7- F3 – Lonely Land (Original Mix)
8- David Garcet – Inside Me (Julian Sanza Remix)
9- Paronator – No Gravity (Tom Middleton Liquatech Mix)
10- The Mekanism – Can’t Believe (Original Mix)
11- Softwar – August (Original Mix)
12 – Amirali – Beautiful World (Deniz Kurtel Remix)

SOUNDCLOUD: @dtkmusic
www.facebook.com/djpedrobueno

Pedro Bueno - bringthebeats - March 2012

The best DJs can be broken down into two parts: style and substance.  Today’s most popular seem to be made of just one.  Much of the talent on this site probably relies a little too much on the other.  A select few possess a proper dose of both. Place DEMI in that category.

DEMI’s definitely the right mix of everything required to be a top EDM artist. He’s endured through the rapidly changing times of our culture and continues to endear to all that come across his effervescent personality. He has the skills to produce and spin tracks against conventional hype and the will to market himself so those tracks are heard. DEMI’s one of the few ‘music people’ who embraces both variables mentioned above and the responsibility that goes with such talent. He’s an example to the countless nu-breed who wish to follow a similar path.

His all-around, ultra-cool style has made him a legend in the Toronto scene. The party people have latched onto his energy in the booth and what we hear from the speakers grants him legendary status in our ears. From his bimonthly residency at Boa/Sonic, guest performances at System Soundbar, This is London, Footwork and Labour of Love events at the Guvernment, DEMI has an uncanny ability to captivate both crowds.

We try to keep the genre classification in our archive as generic as possible so the listener has an accurate idea of what to expect in the mix.  bGN sets are either house, deep house, progressive house or tech house, but it’s always super difficult to place DEMI in only one of these classifications.  His own description, “genre buster” seems more appropriate for most everything he compiles.

We’ve placed this exclusive in the tech house category, but it’s incredibly deep and soulful at the same time.  It’s a perfect bringthebeats submission in that it’s unique and not something you’d hear played out too often. 

Read the personalized interview here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1btX6PfLT15sHLVC6NmJDoPJ26wx3QT3lYKU4PlJRgY0/edit?usp=sharing

SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/DEMIofficialMUSIC
www.facebook.com/demidj ~~ www.demidjmusic.com  
www.discogs.com/artist/Demi ~~ www.twitter.com/D3MIdj
www.youtube.com/demilovedup

DEMI - bringthebeats - August 2012

Some of the biggest names in dance music used their association with an established duo to catapult their solo careers. Before Sasha & John Digweed, Nick Warren and Jody Wisternoff (Way Out West) and Deep Dish’s Dubfire and Sharam were megastars, they fine-tuned their skills and developed a personal style through contributions to a collective unit.

Working as a team inspires and enhances creativity.  Partners motivate each other to take their individual talents to the next level. It’s always beneficial to have someone to bounce ideas off of and offer a fresh perspective.

As the saying goes, “two heads are better that one.” In electronic music that means more complex and multi-layered sounds. Additional buttons are pushed, dials tweaked and angles attacked when there’s dual minds at work in the studio and booth.

This is the approach Hernan Cerbello and Leo Donato have taken with their collaboration.  Since their inception in 2009, the Dee Keepers have reached beyond your typical DJ set, focusing on the innovation of house music.  They mix together loops, acapellas and mash-ups to present a complete live performance.

Similarly, their production is always ahead of the curve.  With releases on Ricky Ryan’s Avangardia and Sick Watona, as well as Alex Kenji and Manuel De La Mare’s premier Italian imprint Hotfingers, the Dee Keepers are well on their way to becoming a superstar duo of the new generation.

When Hernan first introduced the Dee Keeper project to us three years ago, he mentioned they’d lean toward clubbier sounds.  Even though that still stands true today, you can hear their groovier instincts surface in this Fresh Beats exclusive.  It weaves in and out of soulful bits and driving funk.  It’s the kind of music we’ve come to expect from Argentinean DJs… proper DANCE music.

SOUNDCLOUD: @hernancerbello
www.facebook.com/hernancerbello

SOUNDCLOUD: @leodonato
www.facebook.com/leo.donato.21

Dee Keepers - bringthebeats - September 2012

We were all over the rap scene when it first took off in the 80’s. Eric B. and Rakim, N.W.A., Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys were the shiznit to us. Basically, any act breaking down lyrics our mothers rather we not hear, we were into.

This attraction to “fight the power” rants also raged through our grunge and punk stages. Music represented the rebellious side of our character throughout our youth. We played sports and went to school, as we were expected to do, but when it came to music, nobody could tell us what we should or shouldn’t listen to.

It’s the same today. We know what we like and there’s no chart, list or promotion that can convince us there’s better music than what you’ll hear in the bringthebeats underground.

The key difference between now and then is the message. Today there is none. House music can be whatever you want it to be. We’re not looking for some gangster or hard-ass to prove our point anymore. Electronic music speaks for itself and we’re left to interpret it however we wish.  After years of anger, this is a beautiful thing for us.

Nevertheless, you can’t deny the deep-rooted connection generated through lyrics. Everyone loves to sing along, or at least identify a track with a voice.  It’s why we’ve always been enamoured by deep house. It’s why we love artists like In Deep We Trust.

Martin Harmony, aka In Deep We Trust, has been in our mix for the past two years. His In Deep Sessions are a guaranteed download every month. In the new SoundCloud era, where streaming has mercifully simplified file management, a download confirms a quality set. The download button is clicked every time In Deep We Trust appears in our feed. He creates premium music we want access to forever.

We’re over-the-top excited to host this Fresh Beats exclusive. Martin’s included selections we can play for any one of our family or friends without it being in their face, as it used to be.  We call it accessible dance music. It’s groovy and funky for the underground, as well as indie and disco for the laymen crowd.  The sexy and soulful lyrics are key to the connection mentioned above—the connection most yearn for in the music they adore.

SOUNDCLOUD: @in-deep-we-trust
www.facebook.com/indeepwetrust

In Deep We Trust - bringthebeats - November 2012

Just like most every else, in music, money talks. Whether you’re credible or not, if the cash man has your back, you can walk the walk. Impress this unfortunate fact on the passion of a true artist and the resulting frustration symbolizes why this music scene can totally suck.

Imagine putting your heart and soul into something you adore, only to have it overlooked by cookie-cutter commercializers.  The people, who have the power and influence to make your music huge, demand you diminish it to attract the lowest common denominator.  This reality is something I’ve always really struggled with.

The ‘industry’ forces the truly talented into a dilemma all musicians face at several points in their career: play what you love and know it’s good or dumb it down and know it’ll sell.  I can’t say for sure, but I believe this inner conflict is what motivated Add2Basket to put his DJ career on hold to concentrate on his role with the Hungarian-based Neston.

In a nutshell, Neston’s Internet-radio program is dedicated to the under-the-radar tracks of all artists. Whether the acts are considered popular or indie, Neston aims to showcase music, which for one reason or another, has gone unnoticed. The station embraces the true essence of the underground within all genres.

András Genser, aka Add2Basket, has always gravitated toward the undiscovered. His funky deep-house base has yet to attract the masses (to our despair) and he continually showcases his indie admiration within promo mixes (to the extent of dedicating his entire Rogue Show finale to outside-the-box selections).

He wears his heart on his sleeve and then records it in his music. His pure, unadulterated emotion is so bringthebeats it’s scary. He stays true to his sound and loves what he does, but can’t help but be disappointed with the quality (or lack thereof) at the top.

You know we feel his pain. We live in a parallel universe an ocean apart and will continue to fight the fight together for as long as there’s blissful music like this.

Read the personalized interview here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q1VVZw3aeXEhcwO3Ce0GNTtx9h-h3E2qHVf62sjOCvY/edit?usp=sharing

SOUNDCLOUD: @add2basket
www.facebook.com/Add2Basket

ADD2BASKET dj sets

Add2Basket - bringthebeats - December 2012

For the first four years it was open, System Soundbar in Toronto had it figured out. They had a true music policy.

On Friday’s ‘Breathe’ provided the underground sounds of progressive house and trance, with a little tech mixed in. On Saturday’s ‘Bang’ showcased soulful classic house, New York and Chicago styles. By keeping it consistent, the club earned the trust of its patrons to the point where it didn’t matter the name in the booth, it was the vibe people were paying for.

Not since System has there been an underground club in the city that’s independent of the name at the top of the flyer.  Today, clubbers wait for recycled talent to roll into town and then they’re off to whatever venue their ‘superstars’ find themselves at next. Loyalty to anyone other than the DJ is hard to find.

It really doesn’t make sense to leave your reputation in the hands of someone who has little interest in the greater good of your promotion; nevertheless, we understand the dilemma as it stands today.  It’s costly to introduce new artists in this climate.  You’ll have more misses than hits when your bookings have little buzz, regardless of how talented they are.

It’s just too easy to employ the draw over the DJ who ‘may’ surprise and impress. However, it’s taking a chance on that unknown artist – who blows the crowd away when they least expect it – that will build the trust between a promotion and its people.  That trust will make you legendary; as System Soundbar is to us.

We work hard for our crew’s loyalty and hope we can build something special together. It’s why we manage this site and provide Fresh Beats from under-the-radar DJs like Steven Mccann. If we can’t always book the talent we want everyone to hear on a bringthebeats dance floor, we’ll at least provide the good stuff online.

We’ve been following Steven’s music for almost a year now.  His sets on Tunnel FM are super deep and groovy; always right down our alley.  From reading his bio on Soundcloud, I feel we probably have a lot in common. It definitely sounds like his early days at Kellys were as amazing as our System years, because they were an inspiration to all of our favourite Irish DJs (hear Scope and Niall Kirk too).

Steven’s been extremely excited to mix this exclusive for us.  We always knew he’d give it everything he has to make it the best he can when he did, and as you can hear, Steven made good on our trust.

We figured since we met Steven through another Irish gem, Stuart Johnston, we’d release his bringthebeats debut around the same time Stuart did last year. So I guess this continues our annual holiday greetings from Ireland, and if it’s your first Steven Mccann experience, please remember where you heard him first.

SOUNDCLOUD: @leftism
www.facebook.com/steven.mccann.39

Steven Mccann - bringthebeats - December 2012

When I passed on our initial excitement for this long-awaited Fresh Beats exclusive, Kosmas’ response was (and I’m paraphrasing); “We should have known each other better ten years ago and we might have become pioneers of this sound.”

He seized the thought from my mind.

Kosmas Epsilon was on our radar well before he treated us to an In Demand exclusive in 2009. Despite his reply, we’ve always considered Kosmas to be a true pioneer of the progressive style, but for no good reason, we didn’t take advantage of our first introduction to this incredibly-talented musician. Thankfully, we’ve reconnected and are super excited to have Kosmas back on bringthebeats.

At the peak of my hardcore dancing days in the early to mid-2000’s, this Kosmas mix is what I used to dream our music would evolve into. I hoped the sound would transform from digital to deep, from driving to groovy, while maintaining the progressive movement essential to losing yourself in the moment. Exactly what we hear here.

It’s a serious, yet emotional set, with influences from the European winter that most of Kosmas’ tight crew are enduring right now.  He’s taken a more underground and artistic approach, opposed to the summery vibe of the other recent promos he’s compiled throughout his stay in Argentina, where he’s been working alongside Ricky Ryan in the studio and playing alongside Ricky and Guy J at GURUBOX events.

Kosmas has obviously discovered a heavy dose of inspiration within the beauty of the South American summer, as he’s also constructed two phenomenal productions; Last Canvas, a collaboration with Ricky forthcoming on Candy from Stranjjurs, Volume 2, as well as a remix of Ricky’s Gorilla Glass for Avangardia.

Not quite pioneers of progressive house; nevertheless, it’s awesome to work with Kosmas once again.  He’s one of the world’s greatest ambassadors of our signature sound and someone who’d be perfect at INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND…  we know you were thinking it… you know we’re working on it.

01. Prins Thomas – Symfonisk Utviklingshemming – FULL PUPP
02. Hunter/Game – Blue Earth – DIYNAMIC
03. Javier Carballo – G Tours – ELECTRONIC PETZ
04. Gorje Hewek & Izhevski – Circle – CYCLIC
05. Bohemian Groove – High Jinks – THRONE OF BLOOD
06. Clarian – Shine (Light The Sun) – LIFE & DEATH
07. Booka Shade – Chateau Rouge – WHITE LABEL
08. Canson – Kuma – URSL
09. Shimmer NL – So Yesterday – SLEAZY DEEP
10. Pazul – Pace (Instrumental Version) – URSL
11. Seidensticker & Salour – Golden Times – WIR
12. Kollektiv Turmstrasse – Lapacha (Alex Q Remix) – MUSIK GEWINNT FREUNDE
13. Lake People – Trawler (Hang Sounds by BeatuniQue) – URSL
14. Dj Runo – Power In The Money – SLEAZY DEEP

SOUNDCLOUD: @kosmasepsilon 
www.facebook.com/Kosmas.Official

Kosmas - bringthebeats - February 2013

We don’t know much about Brian Bray.  He’s from Buenos Aires, Argentina.  He has cool-looking dreadlocks, and from what we hear in the exclusive below, he feels the same tunes we do.  We hadn’t heard of Brian a week ago, but as with most of the Fresh Beats we’ve featured, his talent is Ricky Ryan approved.

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter where the music comes from; all you need is the love and warmth of its sound.  Too often we get caught up listing accomplishments and selling the artist, not their works.  I have a feeling this won’t be the last time you hear Brian Bray on bringthebeats, but for this debut, let’s not dig too deep and truly letting the music speak for itself.

"A classic driving funky trip, inspired in the connection of elements, Air & Earth. Enjoy!" – Brian Bray

Venus & Aphrodita

1- Spirit Catcher – Human Factor (Original Mix) – Systematic Recordings
2- Jamie Woon vs Dousk – Shoulda Stories (Ricky Ryan Dub Mashup) CDR
3- Blood Groove & Kikis – So Real (Original Mix) – Spring Tube Label
4- Lakosta – Together (Original Mix) – KDB
5- Ricky Ryan – Lemon Aid (Beat Factory Mix) – Avangardia
6- Ola – She Is Quiet (Original Mix) – Save Room Recordings
7- Raxon – Air Race (Spiritchaser Remix) – Brown Eyed Boyz Recordings
8- Thyladomid – The Voice (Original Mix) – Off Recordings
9- Ricky Ryan & Ucleden – 4 The Music (Original Mix) – Sick Watona
10- Ricky Ryan – Miss Pasadena (Vipul Mix) – Sick Watona
11- Anil Chawla – Fuga (Original Mix) – Vapour recordings
12- Tim Deluxe – Transformation (Original Mix) – Get Human
13- Zovsky and Schaufler – Synphomie (Original Mix) – Acker Records
14- SCSI9 – Ellsworth Land (Original Mix) – Klik Records

Brian Bray - bringthebeats - April 2013

The bringthebeats underground is a Toronto-based collective dedicated to the electronic dance music scene since 2002. Our preferred style is funky progressive house, but we promote any sound with depth and substance. This SoundCloud stream features exclusives, live sets and classic favourites.